"I've Been to the Mountain". . .

While I was away "doing nothing" at the beach Ed was in Colorado doing a little bicycle riding.  I may have mentioned that more than once in my writing while I was gone.  He rode 419 miles in six (6)days and two of the mountain peaks were over 10,000 feet.  He also mentioned 12 % grade which to me is almost straight up!  He's been "training" for this since January--loosing weight, eating right, drinking barrels of juice and gatorade and putting in lots of miles on his bike.  To say that he was anxious about the ride is putting it mildly.  By Thursday night I was ready for him to get on the plane!  He didn't want to talk much on the phone other than to let me know he got there until after the first ride on Sunday.  After that we talked everyday--mostly right after the ride to let me know he'd made it and was ok.  I'm very proud of Ed for doing this.  He's always done whatever he set his mind to do and I expected him to finish this ride.  I had all the confidence in the world that he would.  I loved having him call me sounding like a little boy who had just opened his Christmas presents with the excitement in his voice.  The guys in his group were a good match; they were compatible and helpful to each other.  They were friends.  I asked for prayers for Ed on Sunday before he left, and he said that he felt them each day on the mountain.  When you see him on his bike around the county just know that this man "has been to the mountain" and loved it!